The Final Pre-launch Tick list for Your Meals Packaging Design

Developing artwork for food packaging is an intensive process. In other words, food packaging is designed according to certain specifications and regulations. 

Developing artwork for food packaging is an intensive process. You have to follow certain specifications and regulations. 

Even the slightest error could lead to disapproval, recalls, and a bad reputation. As is the case with packaging artwork for most products, proofing is an important step. But compliance rules make all of this a herculean task when it comes to food packaging design.

To make things easier, we’ve created an ultimate food packaging checklist. This list will help you stick to FSSAI regulations and ensure a successful launch.

Pre-Launch Checklist To Speed Up Artwork Approval 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) dictates certain norms that brands have to follow in packaging. Teams have to review both the front and back of the package. Details about the product, logos, and the position of this content are all decided. 

You need to decide how to place branding, marketing, and product information accurately.

Here’s how things go.

Food Packaging Specifics Checklist

The trickiest part in verifying packaging design is validating colour, fonts, graphics, and text. Artwork proofing tools can be used to speed up the process efficiently.

Specifics	Things to be checked	Online Tool
Colours	Colour codes	Colour Extractor Tool
Fonts	Font family, font spacing, font-weight	Font Finder Tool
Copy	Spellings, readability, grammar	Spell Checker tool
Imagery	Copyright violations, image rights, dimensions	PDF Compare, Online Measurement Scale

Colours: Colour consistency is important to maintain brand aesthetics. Whether you use Pantone or CMYK codes, the slightest variation might hamper branding. A Colour Extractor Tool is a reliable aid to verify packaging artwork colour codes.

Fonts: To maintain branding, there are certain guidelines you have to follow when using fonts. For example, the type of font, spacing between letters, or the thickness of the font are important considerations. 

Instead of checking this manually, you can use a Font Finder Tool that identifies the exact font and typeface in an artwork. And, then use the specifications for new designs to be created. 

Copy: Proofreading the copy is a vital step. Spelling mistakes or readability errors could be damaging. To check spellings in an artwork PDF, an online Spell Checker tool can be used. 

When it comes to readability there are certain standards brands follow. For example, heading fonts should be at least 5 mm in height and descriptions should be of at least 3 mm. Although, these aren’t rules, verifying whether the text is legible on an actual package size is important. 

Imagery: Graphics and images should be reviewed just as precisely as text. Be sure to clear any copyright concerns. You need to verify logo colours and dimensions.

For example, to indicate if a product is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you have to use a symbol issued by FSSAI. It isn’t a mere green or brown symbol. You have to use the exact colour codes, and display the logo in a particular size. Also, the symbol has to be displayed on a contrasting background on the principal display panel.

The exact dimensions to be used are:

Area of the display panel	Minimum diameter of veg/non-veg symbol in mm
Up to 100 cm square	3
Above 100 cm square and up to 500 cm square	4
Above 500 cm square and up to 2500 cm square	6
Above 2500 cm square	8

To verify the size, you can use an online Measurement Scale. If you want to compare artwork versions, a PDF Compare tool can help.

Front of Packaging Checklist

The front of the packaging is used to display branding and marketing information, such as:

Content	Things to be checked
Product Name	Spelling, font, colours
Brand Name	Spelling, font, colours
Logo	Dimensions, colour
Tagline	Spelling, readability
Promotions	Spelling, readability

Tools:  Colour Extractor Tool, Font Finder Tool, Spell Checker tool, PDF Compare, Online Measurement Scale

Product Name: As is obvious, the product name should clearly, and without any error, feature on the front-side of the packaging. The font and colours should be accurately used. 

Brand Name: The brand name adds authenticity to food packaging design and should be prominently placed on the front. You need to check if the brand name is visible and positioned appropriately. 

Logo: A logo determines the brand’s ownership of the product. All you have to do is ensure the specifications are correct.

Tagline: The tagline creatively conveys the brand message and, at times, is attention-grabbing. Hence, you need to make sure it’s placed on the front of the package.

Promotions: Marketers should check whether offers, discounts, coupons, or vouchers are present on the front of the packaging. Moreover, this will help brands gain their consumers’ loyalty and boost sales.

Other content such as the product’s USP, social media handles, can also be placed on the front-side.

Back of Food Packaging Design Checklist

The back of the product packaging is used to meet authority regulations. The legal team needs to check these contents before they are approved. Now, based on the type of packaging, some of the information could be displayed on the sides, top, bottom, or cap of the package.

FSSAI guidelines for labelling and packaging include:

• The name of the food
• List of ingredients and details about their use-percentage.
• Nutritional information per 100 gram or per 100 ml (at times placed on the front as well)
• Food additives (if any)* 
• Vegetarian or non-vegetarian declaration
• Barcodes
• Association marks
• Recyclability information
• Name and complete address of the manufacturer with contact information
• Country of origin for imported products
• Instructions for use
• Net weight
• Batch number/Lot number
• Packaging date
• Best before use information
• Storage information
• Date of manufacture
• Multi-piece package/Wholesale package
• License/Certification number
• Trademarks

*(FSSAI Version –II (22.01.2019)) The risk reduction claim relating to the consumption of a food or food constituents, in the context of the total diet, to the reduced risk of developing a disease or health-related condition.

Final Thoughts

Food packaging comes in different styles, shapes, and sizes. Relevant information on the packaging helps consumers make an informed decision. 

Maintaining a pre-launch checklist for food packaging design ensures all parameters are up to the mark. Moreover, proofing artwork packaging can eliminate any post-release hassles.

Drop your comments or write to info@hanoipackaging.com for queries related to food packaging design.